Dude, if you're stuck at 11 years (as you point out in the Team D thread), I doubt you could find your own ass with both hands and a map!

(sigh) drinking beer at 11, such a shame

Most saddening but technically Canada and Australia are both still colonies of Britan, just self governed. I will though drink to the day that that is not the case!

Though i can certainly relate to the drinking of copious amounts of the pale ale!! Now where's that BBQ.....

So funny. You're mama told you to run with blades, now where's that beer, CHEERS.

There would be no point in full independence. As it now stands the British offer Australia protection, an influence in the UN security council, and other international standing.

Plus, Australia is completely automatus and the point of breaking away complete might just raise more tension.

Ah, well Australians will obviously know more about it than I will. It's just that those who were visiting that particular site were mostly of a particular opinion

We held a referendum here some years ago, about 10 i think, to vote on whether or not to declare ourselves a Republic rather than being part of the commonwealth. Though the movement was defeated, just, mainly due to the "baby boomers" generation clinging to the past, the topic has never really been far from the top of the discussion pile.

Though i am not exactly sure what powers the Monarch has here, i do know that she is represented by the Governor General, and he may sack the Prime Minister and call for elections if he so chooses. It has happened once but that was before my time.

To answer Mac i would say no, Iraq has had little impact on the political front concerning independence. There is a stronger feeling being a republic with the under 35yr olds, so much so that in my opinion, if we were to hold that same referendum today, i think we would be declared a republic free of British influence. Is this feeling instilled by wordly events, of course. i just don't think it is any 1 specifically.



Australia has had a seat many time on the UN Sec Council and only sees to seek such a position as the needs dictate. Any protection the UK offers is quite mute, especially whilst they still make us pay for war loans from WWII, a war in which we had to borrow money to defend the UK at the expense of our own country.

Today, Australia has far more in common with the U.S.A. than the UK and we are modelling many more of our laws and initiatives to reflect those of the states rather than the UK.

As for creating tension, i don't think so, ib fact i think there would be great rejoice if a break away were to occur.

Yes we have digressed somewhat, i'll follow the topic to the OT forum if there is more to discuss.

I almost called in a hazmat team to clear the dust off of this thread

Just wanted to let you guys know I did a quick write-up of my round 3 game in the strategies thread in our Core forum. Hopefully it will be helpful to all of you - and please post your own any time!

Sounds like the kind of thing Kona says when he's down to one planet and I open up the diplomatic screen...

Habitat for Humanity build? That sounds very intriguing, Marshall. I'd like to hear more about that when you get a chance.

well, not *quite* my team's thread lol, but anyhow. Habitat for Humanity International, originally formed in the US, is an organization of volunteers that builds cheap/low cost housing across the world.

It has one of the largest collegiate alternative break programs (college students that volunteer on break instead of going on vacation) of any organization.

In 1984 former US President Jimmy Carter affiliated with Habitat to form the 'Jimmy Carter Work Project'

In 2005, President Carter and Habitat, Whirlpool Corporation, and a number of local civic groups worked together to build 22 new homes in three days across the river of my hometown in our 'twin' city.

Good for you Marshall for participating in this wonderful project that does so much for those that are helped and are given new hope with a home of their own.

Thanks, guys - it is still the same organization, and former Pres. Carter is still an outspoken advocate. It's the one kind of charitable work I really feel called to do, and I feel it makes a deep and lasting impact on both the homeowners and on the volunteers. I've been involved both with local affiliates and week-long builds farther away for a few years now, and there are also international initiatives. You can read more about it on the HfH Web site.

I like to say it's a life-affirming, rather than life-altering, experience, though one thing I usually take away from the longer builds is a re-evaluation of my own daily priorities. Sometimes I find it hard to get back into some things, like computer games.

I'm also ramping up to a promotion at work, and the unpleasantness I found in the MVL rulebook thread was another blow. I still plan to participate in the upcoming round 4, but what I do after that depends on too many variables for me to decide right now. Sorry to sound negative - I really just mean this as a "heads-up" because sometimes life does funny things to us all.